Convertible bed



` June 20, 1961 c. B. HUBBELL. ET AL 2,988,757

CONVERTIBLE BED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1959 June 20, 1961 c. B. HUBBELL. ET A'. 2,988,757

CONVERTIBLE BED Filed Jan. 27, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV TORS C la Bali/ig! a e7 L72'lmer fined N. ATT EYS United States PatentOce Patented June 20, 1961 2,988,757 CNVERTIBLE BED l Catherine B. Hubbell and Elmer V. Pennell, Patterson, N.Y., assignors to `Castro Convertible Corporation, New Hyde Park, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 789,395

7 Claims. (Cl. 5-36) This invention relates to a convertible bed and `more particularly to a bed adapted to be converted to an ottoman or hassock.

There are several types of convertible beds which are widely popular at the present time. One type is a sofabed which typically comprises a bed mechanism supporting a mattress and yhaving three or four sections pivoted end-to-end and foldable with the mattress within a sofalike frame. The bed mechanism is ordinarily suspended from the side arms of the sofa and many styles of this type also utilize the hollow space within a stationary back rest ofthe Aframe to conceal the bed mechanism, When the mechanism is folded within the frame, seat cushions are placed upon the mechanism to complete its concealment and at the same time to provide a seating unit having theappearance and comfort of a conventional sofa,

Another popular type of convertible bed, with which the invention is more directly concerned, is known as an ottoman or hassockI bed and is one` wherein the frame has no upstanding side arms or back. In contradistinction-to a sofa-bed, an ottoman 'bed when folded, as its name implies, -has the appearance and square cubical shape of an ordindary ottoman. As such, it can serve double duty as an adjunct to an easy chair or be used elsewhere in places where space is at a premium, as in small apartments. Yet, when the unit is opened up, it becomes a comfortable, full length bed.

In the ottoman type beds previously proposed it was necessary to use a two-piece mattress, because of the structural limitations imposed by the frame within which the mattress supporting mechanism is mounted (i.e. the frame does not have arms or a back within which the bed mechanism and mattress can be suspendedorl concealed). Though these prior constructions were generally satisfactory, it still remained desirable from the standpoint of comfort and of bedmaking convenienceJ when tucking sheets and blankets around the foot of the mattress and along its sides to be able to use a onepiece mattress. The present invention now makes this possible in an ottoman ,type of convertible bed. f

A general object of this invention istol provide a con-A vertible bed of improved construction having av full length one-piece mattress which folds into a frame to provide an ottoman or hassock.

This and other objects will in part be understood from and in part pointed out in the following description.

In accordance with the present invention an improved mattress-supporting mechanism is provided in an ottoman or hassock frame. This mechanism is adapted to be folded completely within the frame or `alternatively to be unfolded outwardly therefrom in a hori-v the inner section lying lowermost within the frame just above the door, with the intermediate section folded'o'ver and somewhat above the inner section, and with the end section folded back over and vlying directly on top of the'intermediate section. The auxiliary sectionis tele- When folded, these sections lie within the frame in a flat S-shaped configuration with scoped inward beneath the end section and leaves a clearance space for the mattress within the confines of the frame between the ends of the intermediate and end sections.

When the bed sections are folded, the one-piece mattress has about two-thirds of its length .doubled at upon itself horizontally between the inner and intermediate sections, and its remaining third folded in a reverse bend around the ends of the intermediate and end sections and 0n top of the latter to provide a resilient seat platform. 'The matteress, though it has appreciable thickness, easily :folds around the adjacent ends of the intermediate and end sections and within the confines of the frame due to the clearance space provided by the sliding or telescoping action of the auxiliary section.

When the bed sections are unfolded, the inner sectionv rises vertically to the top of the frame and the other sections unfold and extend horizontally outward at a convenient height above the floor. The auxiliary section during this movement slides back from under the end section and bridges the gap between the intermediate and end sections so that the mattress is supported along its entire length. In this way a full length, one-piece mattress is accommodated, but yet mattress and mechanism fold compactly within a frame surrounding a space only slightly larger than the cubic volume of the mattress itself. The structure of the frame within which the bed sections are mounted is similar to that shown in the inventors U.S. Patent No. Re. 24,128.

A better understanding of the invention together with a fuller appreciation of its many advantages will best be gai-ned from a study of the following description given in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a; perspective view of an ottoman bed embodying the novel features of the invention and illustrated with part of the frame broken away to show its internal structure;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the bed show` ing the articulated sections partly unfolded and with 1 the mattress shown in dotted outline;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the sections completely unfolded in bed position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of a portion of the unfolded bed mechanism showing particularly the sildable auxiliary section; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-section view taken as indicated by lines 5-5 in FIGURE 1 to show the folded over portion of the mattress at the juncture of the intermediate and end sections and the auxiliary section telescoped beneath the end section.

The convertible ottoman bed 10 shown folded in FIG- URE 1 and partly unfolded in FIGURE 2 includes a stationary frame, generally indicated 12, which includes four upright posts comprising two posts 14 in front and two posts 16 at the rear. These posts are rigidly interconnected at their lower ends and held vertical yby means of the horizontal rails 18 and 20. I-f desired the frame can be mounted on wheels or casters (not visible). When the bed is folded as seen in FIGURE 1, its top is covered with a seat platform 22 comprising a tubular reinforcing square frame 24 within which are stretched woven strips 26 of a suitable plastic as shown, or if desired, a canvas covering. Platform 22 as seen in FIGURE 2 is fastened at its rear end on each side to a pair of arms 28, which, in turn, are pivoted at points 29 at each side of the frame to a pair of ears 30 extending forward from the upper ends of rear vertical posts 16. When standing Ivertically as in FIGURE 3, platform 22 serves as a headboard for the bed. When swung down to horizontal position as. shown in FIGURE 1 platform 22 rests directly upon and 'covers the horizontal upper fold of a mattress, generally."

indicated at 32. The reinforcingframe 24 of the platform'prevents sagging of the sides Vor edges'of thefolded"V` mattress when a person is seated on the unit, but at the same time this platform in conjunction with the mattress providesfa resilient; comfortable seats.` Theacompletely-:a foldedfunit will ordinarily' be covered with a removable-".6 Slipcover not shown).

As seen best in FIGURES 2 and 3, the bed mechanis'mS- mounted within frame 12-includes anV innersectionf34 to which is pivoted a short connectingasection35,1the10 forward end of which, in turn, is pivoted tofan intermediate section 36. The forward end oftheiintermedia'te section 36 carries projeotingarms 38 at each side-'which-"l are rigidly fastened to it and which, in turn,'arepivoted -i to Aan end section 42 at points 40. -The' rearward end '15 of -an auxiliary bedsection 46'is pivoted between'arms 38 `at points 44and' the forward endof'the auxiliary l sectionV carries a pin 48Uon each side-which pinsy are slidable in longitudinal slots 50in end'section 42.-

As -seen in FIGURE 5, when the intermediate and end sections 36 and 42 are folded over -upon each other,k auxiliary section 46 telescopes forward beneath' the endseetion and this Provides room for a reverse fold portion 52 of the mattress between the rear of the vframe and i the adjacent sides of the sections. Thus, by virtue of this construction it is possible to fold a one-piece mattress along with the bed mechanism int-o a flat S shape inside frame 12. When the bed is fully unfolded Vas seen'in FIGURES 3 and 4 auxiliary section 46 bridges thefgapv between the intermediate and end sections 36 and 42 and 30 extends in line with the other bed sections. M Pin 48 which supports the forward end of the auxiliary section is then located at the rear of slot 50.

Asseen in FIGURES 2 and 3, auxiliary section 46' includes two Vshort side rails 54'which, near their -mid-A 35 points, are tied together by three strips 56, A57 and 58 having springs at each end which complete this section. End section 42 similarly includes two side rails 60 whose front ends are rigidly joined by a front rail 62and which are tied together by a tube 64 near their rearwardV ends. 40 Stretched Within these members Vis a section of bed`` spring 66.

Intermediate bed section 36 includesV two side rails 68 which are rigidly joined by a tube 69 near their forward' ends. The rear ends 4of these side rails each have'one 5 of a pair of arms 70 projecting from.themgrespectivelyj and the rearward end of the`l arms, in turn, fare pivotedY to the upper ends of front posts 14 at points -72." These' arms also are pivoted at points 74 intermediate their ends `to the forward ends of side rails 76 of connecting 50 section 35. The latter rails 76 are ylaterally joined by a downwardly extending U-shaped cross-brace tube 78.V

Inner section 3.4 includes `two side rails 80 whose forward ends'are pivoted at points 82`to rails 76'of connecting section and the rear ends (see FIGURE l) are rigidly joined by a rail 84. Stretched withiny the rectangle formed by articulated sections 34, 35 and 36 is another bedspring section 86 which together with bedspring section 66 and auxiliary section 46 support mattress 32 when the bed is unfolded.

In the unfolded position of the ottoman bed as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the forward end of end section 42 Ais supported above the oor by means of a pair of legs' 88 rigidly xed to it. To prevent sagging at pivot points between end section 42 and the intermediate 65 section 36, a downwardly and backwardly extending rigid plate 90 is fastened on each side at the rear end of the end section. The lower end of each plate 90 (see also FIGURE 4) has a short link 94 pivoted thereto at 92 and the upper end of each link carries a pin 96 engaged 70 in a slot 98 in side rail 68. Downward thrust on piu/ot 40 .is therefore resisted by the counter-pull Vof link 94 against pivot 92 and pin 96. To aid in folding sections 42 and 36 the bottom end of plate 90 is connected to a tension spring `l1 00 whose lrearyend---is `fastened vat `10Q-to "75 intermediate section 36. When these sections are folded together the 'tension 'in' this spring' is decreased;

As seen in FIGURE 3, when the bed is unfolded the inner end of the intermediate `section 36 is supported by arms from the upper ends of posts 14. Inner section 34 is supported in raised position within frame l2 level with its top by an X linkage including a link 104 and a link 106 at each side." The' upperend of each linkr104 is pivoted to a side'rail 80 of section 34'at point 108, and the upper end of each link 106 carriesv a pin 110 which is engaged in a slot 112 near the rear end of this rail. Links 104 and 106 are pivotally connected at 114 andontheir lower ends carry pins 116 and 118,"respec tively; which are engaged in corresponding' `slots 120 and 122 in rail 18 of the frame. Pivoted to Vlink'104 near its upper end at point 124 is a short link 126 Whose forward end is pivoted to post 14 at .128. As can-be seen in FIGURE 2, when intermediate section 36'is swung forward about pivots 72, it pulls connecting section 35' upward'and forward'and, in turn, raises the innersection up to the position shown in FIGURE 3. In the latter position, short link 126, in conjunction with connecting section 35, acts as a toggle and holds the inner section locked in raised position. To aid in the lifting of the inner section, there is attached between llink 126 and post 14 a tension spring 129.

To prevent frame 12 from rolling along the floor when mounted on wheels (not visible) and during unfolding of the unit, a tension spring 130 is connected between the'short link 126 and a brake lever 132. This lever 132`is pivoted to rail 18 at 134 and when its upper end is pulled upward by spring 130 its lower end (not shown) bears against the floor.

When the Abed is fully folded as shown in FIGURES l and5, the rearward ends of the end and theintermediate sections 42 and 36 are locked against upward movement and are supported by the tops of rear posts 16; To

this end, each of side rails-60 of the end section 42'has a rearwardly'extending tab 136 which overlies and bears against the top of a corresponding one'of posts 16. Mounted on the rear-'side of each post 16 below itstop `is anl L-shaped'spring catch 138 whose lower portion is fastened to post 16 at 140 Aand whose 'upper end has a nose 142 projectingforward through an opening 144 in the post. When the bed'is folded and' as shown best in FIGURE 5, nose 142 engages a shoulder 146 on plate and thus prevents therear of the end section from springing up. P1ate'90 beneath shoulder 146 has a sloping' edge 148 which when the parts are moved into'the position shown in FIGURE 5, cams nose 142 rearwardly and then releases it to engage Shoulder 146.

The' normalweight of the end section 42v and the folded portion of the mattress hold the forward end of this -section at against the intermediate section, this weight in turn being transmitted to forward posts V14 through arms 70. To unfold the bed, the -front end of theend section is simply lifted up until shoulder 146 of plate 90 swings out-from under nose 142.

The drawings herein were made from an actual unit 0 and show its various'parts to scale.

The' above description of the invention is intended in illustration and not in limitation. Various changes in the embodiment described mayV occur to those skilled in the art and these can be made without departing from thevspiritor scope of the invention as set forth.

We claim:

1. An improved ottoman type convertible bed comprising a frame having a generally cubical hollow interior, a bed mechanism foldable in conjunction with a onepiecefmattress within saidv frame in at S-shaped position and unfoldable` horizontally over the oor outward from said-frame, said mechanism includingr an inner section, a connecting section, an intermediate section, an end Section5-'said sections :being pivoted together end-to-end, an auxiliary. :section-pivoted between said yintermediate f and end sections and slidable forwardly between said sections when folded and bridging the ends ot said sections when unfolded, and means for suspending said bed mechanism within said frame.

2. The structure as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes four upright corner posts, and said suspending means includes links pivoting said inner section to said frame for vertical movement.

3. The structure as in claim 1 wherein said inner section and said intermediate section are generally coextensive with the width and length of said frame.

4. An improved ottoman-type convertible bed comprising a frame enclosing -a generally cubical space, an inner bed section supported within said frame by links and movable vertically from near` the lbottom to near the top thereof, a short connecting bed section pivoted to the front edge ot said inner Isection, an intermediate bed section pivoted to the front end of said connecting section, an end bed section pivoted yto the iront end of said intermediate section, an lauxiliary bed section slidably mounted between said intermediate and end sections, and a pair of legs connected to said end section, said bed sections when said bed is folded lying with said inner section horizontally and near the bottom of said frame, with said connecting section vertical near the front of said iframe, with said intermediate section folded over and generally parallel to said inner section and spaced above it by the length of said connecting section, with said end section folded over and lying closely against said intermediate section, and with said auxiliary section telescoped between said end and intermediate sections to leave a vertical clearance space `between said frame and the rear of said end and intermediate sections, and when said bed is unfolded said sections lying with said inner sections horizontal and near the top of said frame, with said connecting, intermediate and end sections extending forward rrom said innersection horizontally above the floor, and with said auxiliary section forming a horizontal bridge between said intermediate and end sections, whereby a one-piece mattress can be used with said bed and folded into fiat S shape within said frame between and around said sections.

5. The structure as in claim 4 in further combination with a seat platform hinged at its rear end to a rear top part of said frame yand adapted to swing down horizontally over the bed sections when folded to cover the top of the mattress, and to swing up vertically when said bed is unfolded to provide a headboard.

6. The structure as in claim 5 wherein one end of s-aid auxiliary section is pivoted to one of said end and intermediate sections, `and the other end of said auxiliary is connected to slide beneath the other o'f said end and inten-mediate sections.

7. An improved ottoman type convertible bed comprising -a generally square hollow frame, a bed mechanism and one-piece mattress so constructed' and arranged as to fold within said frame in flat double reverse folds and to unfold horizontally over the iloor outwardly from said frame, said mechanism including a plurality of articulated sections pivotally connected to each other in end-to-end relationship, at least one of said sections being mounted to pivot between adjacent sections and to slide relative to said sections when folded tot provide a space for the folded mattress within the contines of the frame and bridging the ends of said adjacent sections when unfolded, and means for suspending said bed mechanism with said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,020 Boeger Jan. 16, 1866 269,055 Herbold Dec. 12, 1882 1,256,325 Karpen Feb. 12, 1918 2,785,416 Bebry Mar. 19, 1957 

